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CONCORD — Kurt Rewinkel really knows how to pull his own weight.
He was awarded the 2023 Dixon County Volunteer of the Year Award for his 35 years of work in pulling off the Dixon County Fair Kiddie Pedal Pull.
Rewinkel started to help with the event when his own kids started to participate in the kiddie pedal pull.
Over the years, he has worked with several volunteers, including Duke Johnson, Todd Nelson, Mike Johnson and Greg Rastede.
“I took over after Duke passed away; Mike Johnson provided the equipment,” Rewinkel said. “After Mike retired his equipment, Greg built the equipment we use. Greg has been such a big help.”
Event coordination starts more than a month before the fair starts, including taking care of any paperwork required to make sure the pull is state-sanction.
“So I work with the state to make sure that our pull is sanctioned and the winners of the classes can go to state,” Rewinkel said. “It has been really fun to see how far kids can go.”
He recalled a kid who pulled at the Dixon County Fair and went all the way to Nationals and placing.
Rewinkel is in charge of ordering the trophies and organizing all the prizes for the kids to get excited for. He works with sponsors like Northside Grain, Randy Patefield, Patriot Seeds, Hansen Repair, Parts House, Scott’s Automotive, and more. “The State Pedal Pull coordinated a sponsorship with Pizza Hut. We worked with Wayne Pizza Hut to give the top kids a free mini pizza,” Rewinkel said. “We usually give three dollars to first, two dollars to second, and a dollar to third place. Then on the trophy side, we go first, second, third, fourth get trophies, and then fifth place is the medallion.” Rewinkel worked with Rastede to obtain larger equipment so they could increase the pull’s age limit up to 12 instead of 9.
He also announces during the pedal pull and appreciates the volunteers who help with signing kids in.
“It’s fun, really fun to watch the kids’ faces and the crowd cheering them on,” Rewinkel said. “The grandparents also really get into it, too. It’s fun to watch their friends get excited for them. Now I’m seeing kids that I used to help their parents get started pulling when they were little kids. I remember them in the pull, So yeah. It’s the second generation. Seeing the second generations come in and participate. It’s kind of fun.”
While Rewinkel feels honored to be selected for the Volunteer of the Year Award, he knows there’s so many more volunteers that deserve recognition, too.
“I think a lot of kudos and appreciation needs to go out to a lot of people that come and clean up after the fair after the fun has been done. I’m just one of the many people that it takes to put on a fair,” said Kurt, “Our board has been really good. They spent a lot of time there getting ready and helping during the fair. I’m happy we have many people that help put on our fair.”
